Surface energy balance closure – the role dispersive fluxes induced by submesoscale secondary circulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Mauder
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Eddy Covariance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Energy Balance Closure ◽  
Secondary Circulations ◽  
Dispersive Fluxes

<p>Quantitative knowledge of the surface energy balance is essential for the prediction of weather and climate. However, a multitude of studies from around the world indicates that the turbulent heat fluxes are generally underestimated using eddy-covariance measurements, and hence, the surface energy balance is not closed. This energy balance closure problem has been heavily covered in the literature for more than 25 years, and as a result, several instrumental and methodological aspects have been reconsidered and partially revised. Nevertheless, a non-negligible energy imbalance remains, and we demonstrate that a major portion of this imbalance can be explained by dispersive fluxes in the surface layer, which are associated with submesoscale secondary circulations. Such large-scale organized structures are a very common phenomenon in the convective boundary layer, and depending on static stability, they can either be roll-like or cell-like and occur even over homogeneous surfaces. Over heterogeneous surfaces, thermally-induced mesoscale circulations can occur in addition to those. Either way, the associated dispersive heat fluxes can inherently not be captured by single-tower measurements, since the ergodicity assumption is violated. As a consequence, energy transported non-turbulently will not be sensed by eddy-covariance systems and a bias towards lower energy fluxes will result. The objective of this research is to develop a model that can be used to correct single-tower eddy-covariance data. As a first step towards this goal, we will present a parametrisation for dispersive fluxes, which was developed based on an idealized high-resolution LES study for homogeneous surfaces, as a function of non-local scaling variables. Secondly, we explore how well this parametrisation works for a number of real-world eddy-covariance sites.</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of energy balance closure correction methods for multiple eddy-covariance sites in different biomes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Mauder ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Eddy Covariance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Energy Transport ◽  
Energy Balance Closure ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Secondary Circulations ◽  
Measurement Height

<p>The apparent lack of surface energy balance closure is one of the most crucial challenges in the measurement of biosphere-atmosphere exchange. In principle, this issue can have a variety of potential reasons, including instrumental errors and errors introduced in the data processing chain. In addition, secondary circulations have been identified as one of the main reasons for a non-closure of the surface energy balance, since the related energy transport cannot be captured by common eddy-covariance tower flux measurements. When present, neglecting this process will result in an underestimation of turbulent fluxes. Secondary circulations can, however, be represented by means of large-eddy simulations, which have been employed to develop a novel semi-empirical model to correct for the missing large-scale flux (De Roo et al. 2018, DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0209022). In this study, we compare the results of this process-based method with two other previously published bulk-correction methods (Mauder et al. 2013, DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2012.09.006; Charuchittipan et al. 2014, DOI 10.1007/s10546-014-9922-6). These three correction methods are applied for multiple sites in different biomes around the world. Independent data of energy fluxes from these sites are used to assess which of these methods leads to the most reliable results, and we discuss the limitations of these corrections methods with respect to meteorological conditions and site characteristics, such as measurement height, the landscape-scale heterogeneity and terrain complexity.</p>

scholarly journals Surface-Energy-Balance Closure over Land: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 177 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 395-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Mauder ◽  
Thomas Foken ◽  
Joan Cuxart
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Energy Balance Closure ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Open Questions

Abstract Quantitative knowledge of the surface energy balance is essential for the prediction of weather and climate. However, a multitude of studies from around the world indicate that the turbulent heat fluxes are generally underestimated using eddy-covariance measurements, and hence, the energy balance is not closed. This energy-balance-closure problem, which has been heavily covered in the literature for more than 25 years, is the topic of the present review, in which we provide an overview of the potential reason for the lack of closure. We demonstrate the effects of the diurnal cycle on the energy balance closure, and address questions with regard to the partitioning of the energy balance residual between the sensible and the latent fluxes, and whether the magnitude of the flux underestimation can be predicted based on other variables typically measured at micrometeorological stations. Remaining open questions are discussed and potential avenues for future research on this topic are laid out. Integrated studies, combining multi-tower experiments and scale-crossing, spatially-resolving lidar and airborne measurements with high-resolution large-eddy simulations, are considered to be of critical importance for enhancing our understanding of the underlying transport processes in the atmospheric boundary layer.

scholarly journals Analysing surface energy balance closure and partitioning over a semi-arid savanna FLUXNET site in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuhle P. Majozi ◽  
Chris M. Mannaerts ◽  
Abel Ramoelo ◽  
Renaud Mathieu ◽  
Alecia Nickless ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
Energy Balance Closure ◽  
Flux Tower ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Flux tower sites and data are in great demand to provide essential terrestrial climate, water and radiation budget information needed for environmental monitoring and evaluation of climate change impacts on ecosystems and society in general. They are also intended for calibration and validation of satellite-based earth observation and monitoring efforts, such as for example assessment of evapotranspiration from land and vegetation surfaces using surface energy balance approaches. Surface energy budget methods for ET estimation rely to a large extend on the basic assumption of a surface energy balance closure, assuming the full conversion of net solar radiation reaching the land surface into soil heat conduction and turbulent fluxes, i.e. the sensible (or convection) and latent heat components of the energy balance. Evapotranspiration is the conversion of the latent heat exchange fraction of the balance. In this paper, the Skukuza flux tower data were analysed in order to verify their use for validation of satellite–based evapotranspiration methods, under development in South Africa.Data series from 2000 until 2014 were used in the analysis. The energy balance ratio (EBR) concept, defined as the ratio between the sum of the turbulent convective and latent heat fluxes and radiation minus soil heat was used. At first typical diurnal patterns of EB partitioning were derived for four different seasons, well illustrating how this savannah-type biome responses to the weather conditions. Also the particular behaviour of the EB components during sunrise and sunset conditions, being important but usually neglected periods of energy transitions and inversions were noted and analysed. Annual estimates of the surface energy balance and its components were generated, including an evaluation of the balance closure. The seasonal variations were also investigated as well as the impact of nocturnal observations on the overall EB behaviour.

scholarly journals Options to correct local turbulent flux measurements for large-scale fluxes using a LES-based approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Mauder ◽  
Andreas Ibrom ◽  
Luise Wanner ◽  
Frederik De Roo ◽  
Peter Brugger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eddy Covariance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Eddy Covariance Method ◽  
Boundary Layer Height ◽  
Secondary Circulations ◽  
Low Pass ◽  
Measurement Height ◽  
Flux Measurements ◽  
Dispersive Fluxes

Abstract. The eddy-covariance method provides the most direct estimates for fluxes between ecosystems and the atmosphere. However, dispersive fluxes can occur in the presence of secondary circulations, which can inherently not be captured by such single-tower measurements. In this study, we present options to correct local flux measurements for such large-scale transport based on a non-local parametric model that has been developed from a set of idealized LES runs for three real-world sites. The test sites DK-Sor, DE-Fen, and DE-Gwg, represent typical conditions in the mid-latitudes with different measurement height, different terrain complexity and different landscape-scale heterogeneity. Different ways to determine the boundary-layer height, which is a necessary input variable for modelling the dispersive fluxes, are applied, either from operational radio-soundings and local in-situ measurements for the flat site or from backscatter-intensity profile obtained from collocated ceilometers for the two sites in complex terrain. The adjusted total fluxes are evaluated by assessing the improvement in energy balance closure and by comparing the resulting latent heat fluxes with evapotranspiration rates from nearby lysimeters. The results show that not only the accuracy of the flux estimates is improved but also the precision, which is indicated by RMSE values that are reduced by approximately 50 %. Nevertheless, it needs to be clear that this method is intended to correct for a bias in eddy-covariance measurements due to the presence of large-scale dispersive fluxes. Other reasons potentially causing a systematic under- or overestimation, such as low-pass filtering effects and missing storage terms, still need to be considered and minimized as much as possible. Moreover, additional transport induced by surface heterogeneities is not considered.

scholarly journals The Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) for estimation of turbulent heat fluxes

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Su
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Evaporative Fraction ◽  
Balance System ◽  
Turbulent Heat Fluxes

Abstract. A Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) is proposed for the estimation of atmospheric turbulent fluxes and evaporative fraction using satellite earth observation data, in combination with meteorological information at proper scales. SEBS consists of: a set of tools for the determination of the land surface physical parameters, such as albedo, emissivity, temperature, vegetation coverage etc., from spectral reflectance and radiance measurements; a model for the determination of the roughness length for heat transfer; and a new formulation for the determination of the evaporative fraction on the basis of energy balance at limiting cases. Four experimental data sets are used to assess the reliabilities of SEBS. Based on these case studies, SEBS has proven to be capable to estimate turbulent heat fluxes and evaporative fraction at various scales with acceptable accuracy. The uncertainties in the estimated heat fluxes are comparable to in-situ measurement uncertainties. Keywords: Surface energy balance, turbulent heat flux, evaporation, remote sensing

Optimizing large-eddy simulations for investigating the energy-balance closure problem at typical flux measurement heights

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luise Wanner ◽  
Frederik De Roo ◽  
Matthias Mauder
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Eddy Covariance ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Large Eddy Simulations ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Energy Balance Closure ◽  
Balance Study ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Secondary Circulations

<p>The eddy-covariance method generally underestimates sensible and latent heat fluxes, resulting in an energy-balance gap from 10 % to even 30 % across sites worldwide. In contrast to single-tower eddy-covariance measurements, large-eddy simulations (LES) provide information on a 3D array of grid points and can capture atmospheric processes such as secondary circulations on all relevant scales, which makes them a powerful tool to investigate this problem. In order to compare LES results to field measurements at 20 m height from the CHEESEHEAD (Chequamegon Heterogeneous Ecosystem Energy-balance Study Enabled by a High-density Extensive Array of Detectors) campaign, a LES-setup that provides comparability to the measurements at these low levels is necessary. However, former LES studies have shown that the energy balance is almost closed near the surface, which does not reflect the energy-balance gap in measurements. One possible reason might be the common use of prescribed surface fluxes that cannot adapt to changes in surface temperature and moisture, which would allow for the self-reinforcement of secondary circulations. Therefore, we set up an idealized study, in which we compare the performance of the land-surface and plant-canopy models implemented in PALM to the use of prescribed surface fluxes above homogeneous forest and grassland ecosystems under different atmospheric conditions with respect to realistic energy-balance closure behavior. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of a dynamic subgrid-scale model, as well as an alternative to the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (Banerjee et al. 2015, Q. J. R. Met. Soc.).</p>

scholarly journals Strong Summer Atmospheric Rivers Trigger Greenland Ice Sheet Melt through Spatially Varying Surface Energy Balance and Cloud Regimes

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (16) ◽  
pp. 6809-6832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle S. Mattingly ◽  
Thomas L. Mote ◽  
Xavier Fettweis ◽  
Dirk van As ◽  
Kristof Van Tricht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Atmospheric Rivers ◽  
Turbulent Heat Fluxes

ABSTRACTMass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has accelerated over the past two decades, coincident with rapid Arctic warming and increasing moisture transport over Greenland by atmospheric rivers (ARs). Summer ARs affecting western Greenland trigger GrIS melt events, but the physical mechanisms through which ARs induce melt are not well understood. This study elucidates the coupled surface–atmosphere processes by which ARs force GrIS melt through analysis of the surface energy balance (SEB), cloud properties, and local- to synoptic-scale atmospheric conditions during strong summer AR events affecting western Greenland. ARs are identified in MERRA-2 reanalysis (1980–2017) and classified by integrated water vapor transport (IVT) intensity. SEB, cloud, and atmospheric data from regional climate model, observational, reanalysis, and satellite-based datasets are used to analyze melt-inducing physical processes during strong, >90th percentile “AR90+” events. Near AR “landfall,” AR90+ days feature increased cloud cover that reduces net shortwave radiation and increases net longwave radiation. As these oppositely signed radiative anomalies partly cancel during AR90+ events, increased melt energy in the ablation zone is primarily provided by turbulent heat fluxes, particularly sensible heat flux. These turbulent heat fluxes are driven by enhanced barrier winds generated by a stronger synoptic pressure gradient combined with an enhanced local temperature contrast between cool over-ice air and the anomalously warm surrounding atmosphere. During AR90+ events in northwest Greenland, anomalous melt is forced remotely through a clear-sky foehn regime produced by downslope flow in eastern Greenland.

scholarly journals Diurnal land surface energy balance partitioning estimated from the thermodynamic limit of a cold heat engine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Kleidon ◽  
Maik Renner
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Thermodynamic Limit ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Surface Energy Balance ◽  
Heat Engine ◽  
Turbulent Fluxes ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Turbulent Heat

Abstract. Turbulent fluxes strongly shape the conditions at the land surface, yet they are typically formulated in terms of semi-empirical parameterisations that make it difficult to derive theoretical estimates of how global change impacts land surface functioning. Here, we describe these turbulent fluxes as the result of a thermodynamic process that generates work to sustain convective motion and thus maintains the turbulent exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere. We first derive a limit from the second law of thermodynamics that is equivalent to the Carnot limit, but which explicitly accounts for diurnal heat storage changes in the lower atmosphere. We then use this limit of a cold heat engine together with the surface energy balance to infer the maximum power that can be derived from the turbulent fluxes for a given solar radiative forcing. The surface energy balance partitioning estimated from this thermodynamic limit requires no empirical parameters and compares very well with the observed partitioning of absorbed solar radiation into radiative and turbulent heat fluxes across a range of climates, with correlation coefficients r2 ≥ 95 % and slopes near one. These results suggest that turbulent heat fluxes on land operate near their thermodynamic limit on how much convection can be generated from the local radiative forcing. It implies that this type of approach can be used to derive first-order estimates of global change that are solely based on physical principles.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document